Gravity toy



F IJ. 15, 1927- M. HAWK GRAVITY TOY Filed June 21, 1926 Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES BETTY ivronniso v HAWK, or, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT on COLUMBIA.-

GRAVITY: roir.

Application n ea June 21, 1926. seri l No. 117,519.

,My invention relates to gravity operated tOysj 1/)- i. i.

An important-object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character,'which is interest-ingjto watch in operation and which is of such simple construction that it may be manufactured cheaply. I

A further object of the invention is to provideadevice of the above mentioned character, which is wholly automatic in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of tlie following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same, a I

Figurel is a central vertical longitudinal section" through a toy embodying my invention,

Figure2 trough,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the entire device, n v

Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the delivery trough, showing the forwardball holding element in the raised releasing position and the rear ball holding element in the raised holding position.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 des-' ignates a base, having a post or standard 6 rigidly attached to one end thereof. This standard is vertical and carries a forwardly inclined tray 7, tapering forwardly, and lea'ding into a forwardly inclined delivery trough or chute 8; This trough or chute is approximately U-shaped in cross section, and has side walls 9, as shown.

Co-actingwith the delivery trough or chu'te8 is a feeding device, embodying a pair of levels 10, which are pivoted to the side walls of the trough 8, to swing vertically, as shown at 11. The downward movement of these levers 10 is limited by stationary stops 12. Arranged between the levers 10, near' their forwarder free ends, is a transverse upper forward ball-holding element or plate 12', rigidly attached thereto, by any suitable means. This element 12 has its lower end in the form of a generally V-shaped edge 13, to conform generally is a side elevation of the delivery tothe shape of the ball or rolling. element. Pivotally connected with the forward endsjofthe levers 10, are curved rods or links 14, which'are slidably mounted within apertured ears or guides 15, rigidly attached to the side walls 9. The openings of the ears 15are slightly larger than the rods or links 1 1, sothat they may partake of slight turning movement'therein. The links or rods let extend forwardly beyond the chute or trough 8 and are rigidly attached to a combined trough extension and trip element 16,arranged beneath the discharge end of the trough, and extending forwardly beyond the same, and constituting in effect a continuation of the trough or chute. Thenumeral 17 designates a curved rear lower ball holding element, in the form of a strip, which is rigidly secured to the rear end of the combined trip element and extension 16. The rear holding element 17 has its rear end bent upwardly and operates within a longitudinal slot 18. hen the combined trip element and extension is in the forwardmost position, the

upper end of the holding element 17 is substantially flush, with the bottom of thetrough or chute 8, and hence the forward ball or rolling element 19 is adapted to roll forwardly over the holding element 17, to engage behind the holding element 12.

\Vorking in conjunction with the com bined trip element and extension 16 is a swinging actuating trough or element 20,

which is generally Ushaped in cross sect-ion. The actuating trough or element 20 is pivoted between its ends, as shown at 21, to a vertical standard 22, which is rigidly mounted upon the base 5. The rear end of the actuating element or trough 20 carries a weight 23, which automatically swings the element to the raised position, Figure 1, when it is released. The actuating element or trough 20 swingsin a vertical plane longitudinally of the base 5, and when it swings upwardly, it strikes against the combined trip element and extension 16, moving it rearwardly. The

actuating element or trough is provided near and spaced from its free delivery end, with a partition 24, to prevent the balls fromrolling rearwardly upon the same.

The numeral 25 designates "afreceiving' trough or chute extending longitudinally of the base 5 and attached to a vertical standard 26, which is rigidly secured to the base 5. The standard 26 is shorter than the standard 22, and hence when the actuating lift element or trough 20 is swung forwardly to the lowermost position, sothat its free end enters the rear end of the trough 25, the actuating element or trough 20 will be inclined forwardly.

I preferably arrange a bell 27, upon the base 5 between the standards 22 and '26. This bell is sounded by actuating a ,reciprocatory plunger 28, which 'is arranged in the path of travel of the actuatingelement or trough 20.

The operationof the device ,is as follows:

In Figure 1,, the delivery trough ;8 is shown as containing a number of rollingelements or balls 1 9,and the'toy is ready to be started. The actuatingelement or trough .20 is in the raised position, resting against the trip element .or ,extension 17, "but does not move .the same from the forwardmost position. Hence the upper holding element 12 engages in advance of the forwardinost ball 19, while the rear holding element 16 ;is in the lowermost position, and its upper end is flush with the bottom of the trough 8,. To set the device into action, the actuating element or,trou gh 20 is manually shifted to .the lowermost position, and then released. When this elementQO swings upwardly, it strikes the combined trip .element and extension 16, shifting it rearwardly, as shown in Figure 4. The upper holding element 12 is elevated and releases the forwardmost ball 19, and prior to the releasing of this forwardmost ball, the lower holding element has moved upwardly suiiiciently so that it free end is arranged in advance of the next hall, thereby preventing the discharge of .more than one ball. The released ball travels forwardly from the trough 8, and passes over thecombined trip element and extension 16, and enters the l ppe1' end of the actuating element or trough 20,8winging the same forwardly anddownwardly, whereby the ball is delivered into the trough 25. As soon as the actuating element 20 moves forwardly to disengage the combined trip element and extension 16, such extension and trip velement, gravitates forwardly anddownwardly. \Vheri the rear holding element 17 descends downwardly, sufficiently, to permit of the feeding ,movement of the next ball 19, the upper holding .element also descends, and will engage such ball, preventing its discharge from the troughS, until the combined trip element and extension 16 is again shifted rearwardly and upwardly, as described.

When the actuating element 20 is swung downwardly, by the ball held therein, the actuating element strikes the plunger 28, thus ringingthe bell. A signal is, therefore,

given upon each stroke of the actuating element.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferredexample of the same, and that various changes in the shape, i

ment, a trip elementarranged near the dischargeend of the trough, a link connecting the trip element and lever, said lever and link constituting a part of a toggle joint, means .to support the link, a second holding element carried by the trip element and adaptedto be moved into the pathof travel of each rolling element, and aweighted pivoted actuating element arranged near the trip element to move the same .when itswings in one direction, said actuatingelement having a pocketto receive the released rolling element and to be shifted in an opposite direction by the same.

2. In a mechanical toy, an inclined trough for the reception of rolling elementor elements and having an opening in its bottom,

inclined levers pivoted 311631 the trough and extendingabove the same,,a holdingelement carried by the levers and adapted to be .movedinto the path oftravel of each rolling element, a combined .trip and extension element arranged adjacent to the discharge ,endof the trough, inclined links carry ng the combined, trip and extension element and pivotally connected with the levers, Slld links andlevers constituting portions of toggle joints, guide elements supporting said links, a second holding element mounted upon the combined trip and extension element and adapted to be moved thereby through the opening in the trough, and a pivoted weighted actuating element arranged near the combined trip and extension element and adapted to swing upwardlyand to shift the same .rearwardly, said actuating element having apocket for the reception of the released rolling ,element to be swung downwardly by the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BETTY MORRISON HAXVK. 

